Presidency College floats its biggest on campus expansion plan

Mou Chakraborty
Kolkata, October 24

It is a mother of all expansions in a college steeped in history and tradition. Presidency College is planning to make a 45,000 square feet construction and add a new four-storied building in its existing campus in College Street. And yes Promode da’s much-loved canteen is also going to get a makeover.
The proposal has been sent to the higher education department, which in turn has lobbed it to the finance department for clearance. The college has proposed to construct a four-storied building behind its historic main building, which is a heritage structure. The Group D employee quarter located in the same area will be relocated behind the library building where a four-storied building will be constructed. The project is estimated to cost the government Rs 5.5 crore and would be completed in two year’s time.
The new building will cater mainly to the Arts department. Sociology, political science, history and English department presently conduct their classes in a scattered manner. They are likely to be shifted to the new building. Bengali and sociology department, which could not expand due to the space crunch are definitely looking forward to their new quarters.
Alert to the students’ sentiment the college will be trying not to demolish Promode da’s canteen or the old gym, which will be given pride of place in the ground floor of the new building. Efforts are on to make sure that the canteen will not be closed for even a day.
Speaking to HT, former student and Trinamool MLA Saugata Roy, said, “Unlike Rakhal Da’s canteen in Calcutta University, Promod Da’s canteen does not have any historic connection. It is not even a heritage structure. I don’t think students would be unhappy if the canteen is given a new look.”
Each department will be given a staff room with separate cubicles for teachers. Five classrooms will be constructed and each will accommodate 45 students. There will be some extra classrooms, which will be used by other departments. The building will be equipped with all modern teaching aids like computers and projectors.
“It will be huge. According to the building plan submitted by the college the new structure will look like the main building from outside. It will be built in such a way that it does not look out of place as it is situated next to a heritage structure. The plan also suggests a bridge to connect the new structure with the main building.
The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has already sanctioned the plan. “The land behind the main building substantial and one cannot hope to get so much space in central Kolkata. The KMC has also told us that we will not be able to do carry out any more construction in College Street,” said an official of the college.
Hence the college is also looking forward to a second campus where it plans to have a guesthouse, some classrooms and an auditorium. The higher education department has zeroed in on land beside Dhapa in South 24-Parganas for the second campuses of Bethune and Presidency College. “It is in very initial stage. We have just seen the land and will have to speak to the urban development ministry before making any comment,” said an official of the higher education department.
Mou.Chakraborty@hindustantimes.com